COVID-19 vaccinations to continue during ECQ period – Roque

COVID-19 vaccinations in virus epicenter Metro Manila will remain unhampered during the lockdown period from August 6 to 20, Malacañang said on Friday, July 30.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque confirmed this to Rappler in a text message after he was asked if inoculations for senior citizens would continue once Metro Manila is placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

“Yes, definitely. [The] details [will be] provided in due course by vaccination communications,” he said.

During ECQ, only essential establishments and industries would be allowed to operate. Hospitals, groceries, and courier and delivery services would remain fully operational.

On Thursday, July 29, or the day the national government decided to return the capital region to ECQ, 97 more cases of the COVID-19 Delta variant were reported, bringing the country’s total to 216.

Roque said the decision to go back to lockdown was “painful” but had to be done due to the more transmissible nature of the feared Delta variant. Local transmission of the variant was confirmed last July 22. – Rappler.com